Your Federal Student Loans Learn the Basics and Manage Your Debt Websites and Contact Information Student Aid on the Web www.studentaid.ed.gov Your source for in-depth information on preparing for and funding education beyond high school. FAFSA on the WebSM www.fafsa.gov Apply online for federal student aid. National Student Loan Data SystemSM (NSLDSSM) www.nslds.ed.gov Use your Federal Student Aid PIN to access your federal student loan records. Military www.studentaid.ed.gov/military If you are in the armed forces or have a family member in the service, visit this site to find out more about grants, repayment, and forgiveness options. MyMoney.gov www.mymoney.gov Several general government agencies offer advice on how to manage your money. Office of Inspector General Hotline To report student aid fraud (including identity theft), waste, or abuse of U.S. Department of Education funds. 1-800-MIS-USED (1-800-647-8733) E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ed.gov/misused Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) To call or write if you have questions on federal student aid. 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) TTY users can call 1-800-730-8913. Callers in locations without access to 1-800 numbers may call 319-337-5665. E-mail: [email protected] P.O. Box 84 Washington, DC 20044-0084 Cover photos: U.S. Department of Education U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid U.S. Department of Education Arne Duncan Secretary Federal Student Aid William J. Taggart Chief Operating Officer Student Experience Group Michele Y. Brown Acting General Manager December 2010 This publication is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. While permission to reprint this publication is not necessary, the citation should be: U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, Student Experience Group, Your Federal Student Loans: Learn the Basics and Manage Your Debt, Washington, D.C., 2010. To order copies of this publication Students and Parents Order online at: www.edpubs.gov E-mail your request to: [email protected] Call in your request toll free: 1-877-433-7827 (1-877-4-ED-PUBS) Those who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a teletypewriter (TTY) should call 1-877-576-7734. Counselors, Mentors, and Other Professionals Order online at: www.fsapubs.gov E-mail your request to: [email protected] Call in your request toll free: 1-800-394-7084 Those who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a teletypewriter (TTY) should call 1-877-576-7734. Online access This publication is also available at www.studentaid.ed.gov/pubs. Alternate Formats On request, this publication is available in alternate formats, such as Braille. For more information, please contact Federal Student Aid using the information provided above. Some of the Web addresses in this publication are for sites created and maintained by organizations other than the U.S. Department of Education. They are provided for the reader’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Further, the inclusion of particular Web addresses is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed or products or services offered on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites. All website addresses included in this publication were accurate at press time. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . 1 Why should I read this publication? ..........................................................................................1 PREPARE—Understanding Financial Aid and Your Loan Options . 3 How much does college cost? ..................................................................................................3 Table 1. Description of college costs by selected expenditure items .............3 What financial resources are there? .........................................................................................4 What is the federal government’s role in financial aid?.............................................................4 Why should I consider a loan from the federal government? ....................................................4 What about grants and work-study from the federal government? ...........................................4 What types of federal student loans are there and how much can I borrow? ...........................5 Table 2. Federal student loan programs for the 2011–12 award year .............5 Table 3. Comparison of subsidized vs. unsubsidized loans: interest rates, interest accrual and payment, and capitalization ................7 Table 4. Annual and aggregate loan limits for Direct Stafford Loans ............7 Can I get an estimate on how much aid I will get? ....................................................................8 Do all schools participate in the federal loan programs? ..........................................................8 How are federal student loans different from private loans? .....................................................9 Table 5. Federal student loans vs. private loans ..............................9 Table 6. Sources of financial aid ...........................................9 Plan ahead and graduate with less debt .................................................................................10 Always consider what you’ll have to repay and keep track of how much you’re borrowing .............................................10 Manage your money and change your spending habits ......................10 APPLY—Learn How to Apply for Aid . 11 Who can get federal student aid? ...........................................................................................11 How do I apply for federal student aid? ...................................................................................11 When should I complete the FAFSASM? ....................................11 What information do I need? ............................................11 How can I get help completing the FAFSA? ................................12 What if I can’t complete the FAFSA online? ................................12 What about loans? ..................................................................................................................12 Is our income too high to qualify for aid? ................................................................................12 How do I apply for state and school aid? ................................................................................13 I submitted my FAFSASM—what happens next? ......................................................................13 iii Your Federal Student Loans RECEIVE—Learn When and How You Will Receive Your Aid . 15 Your award letter .....................................................................................................................15 Evaluate your award ...............................................................................................................15 Before you accept any aid you need more information.......................15 Accepting the loan offered to you ............................................................................................16 Think about how much you’re borrowing..................................17 Signing a promissory note means you agree to repay the loan ................17 Make payments regardless of receiving billing notices .......................17 Receive entrance and exit counseling .....................................17 When to notify your loan servicer ........................................18 How and when do I receive the money from my federal student loans? .................................18 What can I use my federal student loan money for? ...............................................................18 What is interest? .....................................................................................................................18 What is the interest rate on my federal student loan? ........................19 Interest rate cap for military members ....................................19 Isn’t my interest subsidized (paid) by the government? ......................19 Who sets interest rates for federal student loans? ...........................19 How is interest calculated? .....................................................................................................19 Interest rate factor .....................................................20 Table 7. Calculation of interest rate factor, by select interest rates .............20 Are there any other fees? ........................................................................................................20 I don’t need to borrow all this money. What should I do? ........................................................21 Loans add up! Watch your finances carefully!.........................................................................21 Keep track of how much you’re borrowing.................................21 What if I need to take a break from school or I just can’t go full-time? ....................................22 Table 8. Change in enrollment status: Steps to take to ensure correct loan processing, by status change .............................................22 REPAY—Learn About the Repayment Process and Options . 23 What you need to know ...........................................................................................................23 Know the details of your loan............................................23